Since this has drifted from bike porn (sweet ride!!!) to cranks, specifically the external-bearing type FSA’s (or other similar ones) - I’ve got a question:
I’ve heard they are stiffer, and perhaps slightly lighter (both good things) BUT - does anybody know if they affect the Q factor (are they “wider”?) and, are they more prone to getting gunked up (and potentially needing more maintenance, or more frequent replacement of bearings) since they are not nicely hidden inside the BB anymore???
Stiffer? Nice, but hell, I don’t notice my plain ol’ Ultegras being “not stiff”
Lighter? Nobody’s gonna complain about that.
More maintenance and/or less durability/shorter service life? not so good.
I really do like the new Dura Ace (the looks have grown on me, I used to hate it) and I think the integrated spindle/ external BB is a cool idea. But I’ve been pricing Chorus kits with the standard AL Chorus crankset. I just happened to look at the DA while I was in the shop. I’m positive that I won’t be able to tell the difference in stiffness between any of these cranksets. I’m sure though, that whatever I buy and whenever I buy it, the next season the industry will come out with an oversized BB standard. Ugggh.
As for the frame…it ain’t going to be any of that newfangled carbon fiber. (And white bar tape fo shizzle.)
But let’s get back to this beautiful new bike of jhendric’s. See he’s got good taste too and threw on some white tape of his own.
I went for a very quick spin this morning to make sure everything is working well. The first thing I noticed about the cranks was that the crank arm, where it attaches to the bottom bracket, it wider than on an internal-bearing bottom bracket/crank set. Instead of the crank arm tapering in toward the top, it is vertical (or, it parallels the other crank arm, depending on how you want to look at it). This could be problematic if you pedal with your heels inward, as I can see how your ankle could hit the top of the crank arm because of the decreased clearance. The Q-Factor at the bottom end of the crank arm (where you attach your pedals) is not wider (per FSA specs).
I’ll be able to give you a better review later this afternoon when I get back from a lunchtime ride.